The Mythic Mic Podcast

🎙️ Welcome to Season 2 of The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story!

In this episode, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with debut author Serra Swift, whose gothic fantasy Kill the Beast brings together fairies, found family, and fierce friendships in a lush Victorian-inspired world where love isn’t always romantic, but it’s always powerful.

Kill the Beast follows Lyssa, a blacksmith haunted by the past, and Alderic, a melodramatic dandy with a coin purse bigger than his brain. When their paths collide, they’re drawn into a world of broken bargains and monsters that mirror the wounds within. What begins as a tale of survival becomes a story about healing, courage, and the bonds that make us whole.

Serra shares how Kill the Beast began with a vivid dream (and one unforgettable scene that refused to let her go), her passion for grounding fantasy worlds in historical realism, and the long, determined road that led to her success. From researching blacksmithing at Renaissance fairs to building a platonic love story that still feels epic, Serra’s journey is a reminder that persistence, creativity, and heart can truly forge magic.

🗡️ What if the real monster wasn’t what lived in the shadows, but what we feared within ourselves?
🌹 What if friendship was the most revolutionary form of love?
🔥 And what if a dream could change the course of your entire creative life?

This episode is packed with laughter, heart, and incredible insights into storytelling, worldbuilding, and the realities of a writer’s journey.

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…

✨ Serra’s 15-year road to publication and how Kill the Beast became her “make it or break it” book
✨ The vivid dream that sparked Alderic’s character arc and the moment Serra knew the story belonged to Lyssa
✨ Researching Victorian London, fairies, and blacksmithing (including a few very patient blacksmiths)
✨ Writing platonic love and friendship as powerful, central forces in fantasy
✨ How persistence and passion can keep the creative flame alive through rejection
✨ Rapid-fire fun: thrift-store hauls with Alderic, therapy sessions with Lyssa, and which character would survive a road trip (spoiler: not all of them)

⚔️ CONNECT WITH US:
📖 Follow Serra Swift – IG: @SerraSwiftAuthor
🎙️ Follow host Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland
🎙️ Follow host Sara Santillan – IG: @the_Magical_Quill
🎧 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – IG: @MythicMicPod

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda sits down with debut author Sasa Hawk, whose YA romantasy Unlock the Dark delivers monsters, morally gray heroines, and magic born from grief and hope alike.

Unlock the Dark follows Elia Tallis, a girl who can conjure keys to unlock doors to any place—except the one land she’s been banished from on pain of death. When a desperate prince asks her to break that very law, she’s pulled into a journey of curses, creatures, and choices that blur the line between love and survival.

Sasa shares her road to publication (including the unforgettable phone call that changed her life), her creative process as a writer and mom, and the real-life inspiration behind Elia’s key-based magic. We also dive into themes of resilience, rest, and rediscovering creativity after burnout.

🔑 What if you could open any door—but one could destroy you?
💀 What if the god of death demanded your brother’s soul as payment for mercy?
🔥 And what if saving your family meant breaking every rule of magic and morality?

This conversation is packed with heartfelt advice for writers, hilarious behind-the-scenes moments, and insights into the publishing world you won’t want to miss.

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…

✨ How Sasa’s publishing dream came true (and the wild phone call that announced her book deal!)
✨ What Unlock the Dark is really about — guilt, love, and impossible choices
✨ Crafting a unique magic system inspired by pandemic wish fulfillment and the desire to escape
✨ Why creative rest is vital and why not writing can sometimes be the most productive thing
✨ Navigating debut life with HarperCollins and learning the business behind the books
✨ Reader favorites: the beloved lemur “Cuddles,” grumpy witches, and libraries full of monsters
✨ The challenge of writing a complete story in one book—and the dream of returning to the world
✨ Sneak peek into her next standalone about a girl who can cancel magic
✨ Rapid-fire fun: The God of Death’s Swiftie playlist, magical dating app bios, and “Library of Doom” theme park rides 🎢

CONNECT WITH US:

📖 Follow Sasa Hawk – IG: @SasaHawkAuthor
🎙️ Follow host Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland
🎧 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – IG: @MythicMicPod

💫 Don’t forget to rate & review! If this episode made you laugh, rethink what rest really means, or add Unlock the Dark to your TBR, leave us a review — it helps more fantasy lovers find The Mythic Mic!

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda is joined by co-host Jenn Acidera for a deep-dive conversation with author Whit Stanfield, creator of the sweeping romantasy series A Sea of Song and Sirens.

From its tropical world inspired by The Little Mermaid and Moana to its emotionally layered heroine and morally gray love interest, Whit's series blends fierce feminine rage, immersive world-building, and the kind of slow-burn tension that will haunt you long after the last page.

Whit opens up about her writing journey—from early drafts and world-building obsession to the surprising success of her ocean-bound saga—and gives us a peek into her upcoming projects, including the Sea of Vows and Silence sequel and a brand-new dystopian romance brewing on the horizon.

🧜‍♀️ What if The Little Mermaid took place in a tropical paradise built on secrets and curses?
🔥 What if your enemies-to-lovers romance burned with betrayal, loyalty, and redemption beneath the waves?
🌊 And what if the ocean itself became a character with a will of its own?

We discuss how Whit blends mythic inspiration with emotional depth, what she’s learned from the book community, and why she believes imperfection is part of every writer’s magic.

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…

✨ The spark that turned A Sea of Song and Sirens from an idea into a published series
✨ How Uprooted by Naomi Novik inspired Whit’s first fairy tale retelling
✨ World-building secrets and the balance between research and imagination
✨ Why Whit loves the “guy uses his body as a shield” trope (and why we need more of it!)
✨ Advice for new writers: why your first draft should never be perfect
✨ The role of feminine rage, isolation, and identity in Maren’s journey
✨ Exclusive hints about Book 4 and Whit’s upcoming dystopian romantasy
✨ Rapid-fire fun: favorite tropes, Swiftie confessions, emoji pairings, and Kai’s theme song

📚 CONNECT WITH US:

📖 Follow Whit Stanfield – IG: @WhitStanfieldAuthor
🎙️ Follow host Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland
🎧 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – IG: @MythicMicPod

✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If this episode made you dream of faraway seas, fall for a cursed hero, or crave your next romantasy read, leave us a review—it helps more listeners find their way to The Mythic Mic!

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda sits down with debut author Marina Stevenson, whose cozy, chaotic romantasy Behoved brings magical mishaps, chronic illness representation, and laugh-out-loud royal drama to the page.

From seven manuscripts and years of querying to two international preempt offers in less than 48 hours, Marina shares the long road that led to her “yes.” Behoved follows Bianca, a chronically ill noblewoman, whose arranged marriage to a prince goes wildly off-script when—oops—he’s magically transformed into a horse on their wedding night. What follows is an unforgettable mix of romance, comedy, and unexpected courage.

🗝️ What if your groom turned into a horse before you could say “I do”?
🔥 What if the marriage you never wanted became the story you couldn’t stop writing?
💐 And what if cozy fantasy could still tackle real-world struggles with heart and humor?

We dive into the inspiration behind Behoved, how Marina built Bianca’s voice to feel real and relatable, the business side of publishing no one talks about, and what it’s like balancing romance, comedy, and chronic illness representation in fantasy. This episode is a must-listen for readers who love whimsical, heartfelt stories and aspiring authors chasing their own big break.

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…

✨ The seven-manuscript journey that led to Marina’s debut
✨ How market timing and persistence finally landed her an agent, and the whirlwind of receiving two preempt offers within 48 hours
✨ Chronic illness representation and why Bianca’s story matters
✨ The comedic heart of Behoved—including “the horse scene” that started it all
✨ What happens after an editor says “yes” (spoiler: it’s not just one round of edits)
✨ Comparisons to My Lady Jane and other magical romantic comedies
✨ Rapid-fire fun: karaoke choices, cursed prince Amazon purchases, and ideal candle scents 🐎

CONNECT WITH US:

📖 Follow Marina Stevenson – IG: @MStevensonBooks
🎙️ Follow host Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland
🎧 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – IG: @MythicMicPod
🛒 Order Behoved wherever books are sold.

✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If this episode made you laugh, cheer for an underdog, or want to add a magical rom-com to your TBR, leave us a review—it helps more listeners find their way to The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda sits down with the globetrotting, purple-haired powerhouse behind Smoke and Scar—the first book in the epic, trial-filled, banter-laced Shattered Crown series—Gretchen Powell Fox.

From a childhood spent around the world to crafting a realm torn apart by gods, magic, and political tension, Gretchen takes us deep into her creative process. What began as a “what if the girl was the overpowered one?” idea became a sweeping romantasy filled with deadly trials, elemental magic, and characters you’ll want to protect (and occasionally yell at).

🗝️ What if your greatest ally was raised to destroy you?
🔥 What if the only way to save someone was to enter the same deadly trials that once stole the love of your life?
🌑 And what if embracing your own darkness was the only path forward?

We dive into the world of Smoke and Scar, explore Gretchen’s love for flipping tropes on their head, and unpack the emotional heart beneath the magic, battles, and banter. This one’s for every fantasy reader who craves lush worldbuilding, slow-burn romance, and heroines who could definitely win in a tavern brawl.

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…

✨ Growing up across continents and how it shaped Gretchen’s storytelling voice
✨ The meandering path from her 2012 dystopian debut to Smoke and Scar
✨ The “overpowered fey heroine saves the guy” twist that sparked the book
✨ The Arcane Crucible: deadly trials designed to unite enemies
✨ Why Smoke and Scar is “LOTR meets The Serpent and the Wings of Night”
✨ Flipping romantasy tropes: shadow mommy + golden retriever knight energy
✨ How to keep writing when the self-doubt creeps in

📚 GIVEAWAY ALERT: We’re giving away a signed paperback of Smoke and Scar (U.S. only) and a paperback copy for our international listeners! We're also giving away a special edition of Smoke and Scar from Aurora Crate! Follow us on Instagram for entry details.

CONNECT WITH US:

📖 Follow Gretchen Powell Fox – IG: @gretchenpowellfox
🎙️ Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – IG: @MythicMicPod
🎙️ Follow host Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland

✨ If this episode made you want to pick up a sword, enter a deadly trial, or befriend a shadow-wielding heroine, please rate & review The Mythic Mic—it helps more listeners join our epic quest!

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda sits down with Sunday Times #1 bestselling author Julie Johnson to talk about The Wind Weaver — the first book in her sweeping Reign of Remnants trilogy.

From bike rides to the tiny one-square-mile Massachusetts island where she grew up, to a scrappy self-published novel in college that paid off her loans, Julie walks us through a career built on persistence, creativity, and big, bold ideas. Windweaver is a war-scarred, elemental romantasy about prophecies, outlawed magic, and a heroine named Rhea who is literally taken by the wind. Expect lush worldbuilding, emotionally messy growth, and a trilogy that only gets bigger from here.

🌬️ What if the one lyric stuck in your head became the heart of your novel?
🌊 What if magic had been outlawed—and the only way to restore it was to reunite four scattered elemental beings?
🔥 And what if the parts of you that you fear most turned out to be your greatest strength?

We dive into the inspiration behind The Wind Weaver, Julie’s wild marketing stunts (think giant book covers at iconic locations), her unexpected Sunday Times #1 moment, the elemental system, and why book two raises the stakes even higher. If you love character-driven fantasy with elemental magic, complicated choices, and a heroine learning to own her darkness, this episode is for you.

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…

✨ Julie’s island-child upbringing and how the ocean shaped her imagination
✨ Writing her first novel in college, self-publishing in 2013, and paying off loans before graduation
✨ How agents found her and how foreign rights led to wider visibility
✨ Why magic was outlawed in Julie’s world—and the prophecy that could bring it back
✨ Marketing creativity: lugging a giant Wind Weaver cover around landmarks 
✨ Writing craft: drafting in past tense, flipping to present for publication, and converting later drafts 
✨ What Julie wants readers to feel: owning the parts of yourself that scare you (and how darkness can be strength)
✨ What to expect next

🎁 GIVEAWAY ALERT
We’re giving away a special edition copy of The Wind Weaver! Full entry details are on our Instagram — follow along so you don’t miss it.

📖 Follow Julie Johnson – IG: @author_julie
🎙️ Follow host Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland
🎧 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – IG: @MythicMicPod
🛒 Order Windweaver and explore the Reign of Remnants trilogy wherever books are sold.

✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If this episode made you want to feel the sea breeze, plot familial prophecies, or immediately dive into a new elemental world, leave us a review — it helps other readers find The Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda sits down with the brilliant, multi-genre storytelling force behind Dawn of Onyx and the newly published If Not For My Baby—the one and only Kate Golden.

From fantasy realms filled with reformed demons and slayer academies to a heart-tugging, swoon-filled rockstar romance that’s already breaking hearts in the best way, Kate takes us deep into her writing journey. What started as a beachside book slump turned into a trilogy, a traditional publishing deal with Berkley, and now an emotional, music-infused contemporary romance that’s ready to steal the stage.

🗝️ What if the book you desperately wanted didn’t exist—so you wrote it yourself?
🎤 What if a single concert sparked an entire novel?
💔 And what if reclaiming your dream meant risking everything—including the safety of staying small?

We dive into the world of If Not For My Baby, explore the fantasy roots that shaped Kate’s storytelling voice, and unpack what it means to let go of the path you thought you had to follow in order to chase the one you really want. This episode is for every book lover who’s ever felt stuck, scared, or ready for a second chance.

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…

✨ How A Court of Thorns and Roses (and a really bad book slump) launched Kate’s writing career
✨ Why she wrote her first book purely for herself—and what happened next
✨ How A Dawn of Onyx went from indie darling to a Berkley-trad deal trilogy
✨ What inspired If Not For My Baby—and why this rockstar romance hits deep
✨ Chronic illness, invisible battles, and why stories like Clementine’s matter
✨ Letting go of dreams, rediscovering them, and falling hard when you least expect it
✨ Writing fantasy vs. contemporary: dragons, demons, and...tour buses?
✨ The Buffy-core dark academia fantasy coming next in Half City
✨ Legos, panic attacks, and the killer tangerine (don’t worry—we explain)
✨ A rapid-fire round that includes book hoards, Beauty and the Beast libraries, and stuck-in-an-elevator fears 😱

CONNECT WITH US:

📖 Follow Kate Golden – IG: @kategoldenauthor
🎙️ Follow host Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland
🛒 Order If Not For My Baby and the full Sacred Stones series wherever books are sold.

✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If this episode hit you in the feels, gave you dream-chasing chills, or made you swoon over poetic Irish rockstars, leave us a review—it helps more listeners find their way to the Mythic Mic.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda sits down with the powerhouse behind Trial of the Sun Queen and Not Safe for Work—the one and only Nisha J. Tuli.

From deadly trials to rom-coms and polar bears (yes, really), Nisha shares the winding, inspiring journey that led her from engineering school to the fantasy shelves of thousands. If you’ve ever wondered how to build a thriving author career, balance creativity with market demands, or keep writing even when the odds feel stacked against you—this is your episode.

🗝️ What if your first book didn’t sell … and your second didn’t either? 💥 What if you made your own success while publishing said no? 🔥 And what if a South Asian fantasy heroine took back her power one page at a time?

We go behind the scenes of Nisha’s bestselling series, explore why enemies to lovers and morally gray women resonate so deeply, and talk about how female friendships, internalized misogyny, and hard-won autonomy shape her unforgettable heroines. Bonus? We get a sneak peek at Nisha’s dystopian YA with Red Tower’s new imprint—and her spicy new rom-com Not Safe for Work.

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…

✨ How Nisha went from engineering and burned-out tourism marketer to full-time bestselling author.
✨ What indie publishing taught her about grit, growth, and knowing your market.
✨ The art of balancing creativity with strategy—and why your first book probably won’t be the one.
✨ Why Trial of the Sun Queen is The Bachelor meets The Hunger Games with dragons and soul.
✨ Complex women, fierce loyalty, and the politics of writing heroines.
✨ How switching genres made space for her contemporary debut.
✨ What happens when you put a confident female engineer in a room with her nemesis—and there’s only one bed 😏
✨ Sisterhood, villains, soap theft, and PowerPoint-worthy rage.
✨ A rapid-fire round that involves half-naked men, evil Instagram takeovers, and polar bear lodges. 🐾

CONNECT WITH US:

📖 Follow Nisha J. Tuli – @nishajtwrites
🎙️ Follow host Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland
🛒 Order Trial of the Sun Queen, Heart of Night and Fire, Cursed Captors Series, and Not Safe for Work wherever books are sold

✨ Don’t forget to rate & review! If this episode left you feeling inspired (or mildly obsessed with dragons and ragey PowerPoints), leave us a review—it helps the magic reach more mythic ears.

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda is joined by author Rachel Fallon, whose romantasy series The Star Queen Chronicles (which includes Of Darkness and Ruination and its just-released sequel Of Light and Freedom) will sweep you into a world of elemental magic, chosen ones, dark fates, and the healing power of hope.

🌑 What if your magic was tied to destruction?
☀️ What if freedom meant burning everything down to start again?
🖤 And what if finding yourself meant facing your worst nightmares—and still choosing love?

Rachel gives us the inside scoop on how her powerful, slow-burn series took shape, the mental health themes woven throughout her characters’ arcs, and what it means to write fantasy that embraces both ruination and redemption. We also dive into tropes (hello, grumpy/sunshine and enemies to reluctant allies!), character trauma, writing dual POVs, and her writing process.

Oh, and did we mention… there’s a GIVEAWAY you don’t want to miss? 👀

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…

✨ How Rachel’s dark and hopeful fantasy world was shaped by themes of mental health and recovery.
✨ The meaning behind the book titles—and how light and dark are more connected than we think.
✨ Tropes we love: reluctant heroes, elemental magic, forced proximity, and the battle between fate and free will.
✨ How Rachel's chaotic writing brain actually helps her build emotional plot arcs.
✨ The reader reactions that have blown her away—and what’s next on her publishing path.
✨ Plus, an impromptu playlist discussion and a rapid-fire round with fun chaos ⚔️🎶

🌟 ENTER THE “OF DARKNESS AND RUINATION” GIVEAWAY 🌟
To celebrate this episode, Mythic Mic and Rachel Fallon have teamed up to give away a book box fit for a chosen one:

📚 A signed copy of Of Darkness and Ruination
📖 Bookmarks
🎁 Art prints and stickers

📅 Giveaway ends May 14, 2025 at 11:59 pm EDT
HOW TO ENTER: Follow @BethanyinFantasyland on Instagram for full entry details!

CONNECT WITH US:
📖 Follow Rachel Fallon – @rachelfallonauthor
🎙️ Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast and Host Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland

🛍️ Order Of Darkness and Ruination and Of Light and Freedom on Amazon (or wherever books with magic and mayhem are sold!)

✨ If this episode sparked something inside you, don’t forget to rate & review! Every share helps this podcast reach more romantasy readers and brings more magic (and giveaways!) to your feed.